The Yankees are still one of the biggest spenders in baseball, but their recent moves-or lack thereof-are raising eyebrows. For a team that’s historically flexed its financial muscle, their approach this offseason has been surprisingly reserved. And that restraint was on full display in their failed pursuit of outfielder Austin Slater.
Let’s break it down: the Yankees reportedly offered Slater a $1 million deal. Nothing flashy, but a low-risk move for a depth piece.
The Tigers, meanwhile, came in with a minor league deal that could pay Slater up to $2.5 million with incentives. And just like that, he chose Detroit over the Bronx.
Now, no one’s pretending Slater was going to be a game-changer. His stint with the Yankees last season was underwhelming, and he wasn't expected to be anything more than a depth option.
But that’s exactly what makes this situation so puzzling. For a franchise with the Yankees’ resources, letting a player walk over what amounts to spare change by their standards raises questions.
Not because Slater was a must-sign, but because it hints at a shift in how the front office is operating.
And this wasn’t an isolated case. Earlier in the offseason, the Yankees were linked to Austin Hays-another right-handed outfielder who could’ve filled a need if Cody Bellinger didn’t return.
Hays ended up signing a $6 million deal with the White Sox. That’s not a small number, but again, it’s well within the Yankees’ spending range, especially for a player who could’ve made a real impact off the bench or as a platoon option.
The Yankees’ outfield, as it stands, leans heavily left-handed. Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, and Jasson Dominguez all hit from the left side.
Dominguez, while a switch-hitter, hasn’t shown much power or consistency from the right. That leaves Aaron Judge as the lone right-handed bat with real pop in the outfield.
For a team with championship aspirations, that’s a glaring imbalance.
So where do the Yankees go from here? The market is thinning out, and the options still available aren’t exactly inspiring.
But the need remains: they need a right-handed outfield bat, and they need it soon. Whether that’s via trade or a late free-agent signing, this roster isn’t complete as currently constructed.
What’s clear is that the Yankees are walking a financial tightrope they haven’t dared approach in years past. Hal Steinbrenner has talked for a while now about making the payroll more sustainable, and this offseason might be the clearest sign yet that the team is serious about drawing a line. But when that line starts costing you useful depth pieces-especially over relatively small amounts-it’s fair to wonder how far that philosophy will go.
This isn’t about missing out on Slater or Hays specifically. It’s about the pattern.
The Yankees have needs, and they’re not filling them-not because they can’t, but because they won’t. And for a team that’s always prided itself on doing whatever it takes to win, that’s a shift fans are noticing.